Arcane: Ekko and Powder

The celebration in Zaun's square carried on into the night, with music reverberating off the walls of surrounding buildings. Strings of colorful lights crisscrossed overhead, casting a warm, magical glow over the crowd. Laughter and joy filled the air, a stark contrast to the somber tones that had once characterized Zaun.

In the middle of the festivities, Ekko and Powder stood near a small group of musicians, their arms full of food and drink. Powder had already devoured a skewer of roasted meat, and Ekko was finishing off a pastry dusted with powdered sugar.

"This might be the first time I've seen Zaun like this," Powder said, wiping her hands on a cloth. Her blue hair was pulled into loose braids, and her face was illuminated by the vibrant lights above.

Ekko smiled, watching her. "Yeah. It feels...different. Like, maybe this is what Zaun is supposed to be. What it could always have been."

She tilted her head toward him, a playful smirk on her lips. "You're taking credit for this, aren't you?"

He laughed, brushing crumbs off his hands. "Nah, not just me. This is all of us. The Firelights, the people of Zaun. Even Piltover played a part."

"Not to mention me," Powder said, jabbing him lightly in the ribs with her elbow.

"Oh, obviously," he replied, grinning. "You and your fireworks. You're the star of the show."

Powder crossed her arms, pretending to be serious. "I hope you remember that when everyone's singing my praises."

Ekko chuckled, shaking his head. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

As the music shifted to a slower, more melodic tune, Powder glanced toward the makeshift dance floor that had formed in the center of the square. Couples and friends were swaying to the rhythm, their movements easy and unhurried.

Powder raised an eyebrow at Ekko. "You're not much of a dancer, are you?"

He snorted. "I could say the same about you."

Her smirk widened. "Prove it."

Before he could respond, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor. Ekko stumbled slightly, caught off guard, but he followed her lead.

"I'm warning you," he said as they reached the edge of the crowd. "I'm terrible at this."

Powder placed his hands on her waist and rested hers on his shoulders, her grin unwavering. "Lucky for you, I'm not expecting a performance."

The music enveloped them, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Ekko focused on Powder's movements, trying to match her rhythm. It was awkward at first—his steps were hesitant, and they bumped into each other more than once—but soon they found their groove.

Powder laughed softly, her eyes shining with amusement. "You're not as bad as you think."

"Don't lie to me," Ekko said, his tone teasing.

"I'm serious!" she insisted, though her laughter betrayed her. "You're, like...average. Maybe slightly below average."

"Gee, thanks," he replied, rolling his eyes.

They continued to dance, their movements becoming more fluid as they grew comfortable. Powder leaned closer, resting her head briefly against Ekko's shoulder.

"This feels nice," she murmured.

Ekko glanced down at her, his expression soft. "Yeah. It does."

As the song transitioned into another slow melody, Powder looked up at Ekko, her gaze thoughtful.

"Do you ever think about what's next?" she asked.

He tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Like...after this. After the Firelights, after Zaun gets back on its feet. What happens then?"

Ekko considered her question for a moment, his brow furrowing. "I guess I haven't thought that far ahead. I've been so focused on the here and now."

Powder nodded, her expression pensive. "Me too. But tonight...seeing everyone like this, it makes me wonder. What if we actually pull this off? What if Zaun becomes the place we've always dreamed it could be?"

"Then we'll find something else to fight for," Ekko said with a small smile. "That's just who we are, isn't it?"

Powder chuckled, leaning her head back slightly. "Yeah. I guess it is."

She hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly on his shoulders. "Do you think we'll still be doing this together? Years from now?"

Ekko's smile softened. "Of course. I can't imagine doing any of this without you."

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away. "You're such a sap," she muttered, though her voice lacked any real bite.

"And you love it," he teased.

As the night wore on, the crowd around them began to thin, but the music continued, weaving its way through the quieting square. Powder and Ekko remained on the dance floor, their steps slower now, more intimate.

Powder rested her head against Ekko's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "You know," she said softly, "I don't think I ever really believed this was possible. Not until you."

Ekko's arms tightened around her. "It was always possible, Powder. We just had to believe in it—and in each other."

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. The soft glow of the lights above reflected in her eyes, and for a moment, Ekko felt like the rest of the world had disappeared.

"You're such a sap," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," he admitted, his lips quirking into a small smile. "But you're stuck with me."

Powder smiled back, her gaze flicking to his lips before returning to his eyes. "I think I'm okay with that."

Without another word, Ekko leaned down, and their lips met in a gentle, lingering kiss. It was soft and unhurried, a perfect reflection of the night around them.

When they finally pulled away, Powder rested her forehead against his, her breath warm against his skin.

"We're going to make it, aren't we?" she asked.

"Yeah," Ekko replied, his voice filled with quiet conviction. "We are."

And as they stood there, holding each other in the heart of Zaun, it felt like anything was possible.